Cleaning machine



Dec. 2, 1941. R. A. HETZER 2,264,880

CLEANING MACHIN Filed March 4, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR I QUSSELL A. HETZER www w ATTORNEYS Dec. 2, 1941. R. A. HETZER CLEANING MACHINE 6 Shefs-Sheet 2 Filed March 4, 1938 R W E v Z QR M O m www EL n V I... m& I I I I I i S S U Y B.

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Dec. 2, 1941. R. A. HETZER CLEANING MACHINE Filed March 4, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 h/W m u FIG-9 INVENTOR BLRUSSELL A. HETZER FIG.- 8

ATTORNEYS Dec. 2, 1941.

R. A. HETZER CLEANING MACHINE w oC INVENTOR 5USSELL A. HETZER ATTORNEYS R. A. HE TZER CLEANING MACHINE Dec. 2, 1941.

6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 4, 1938 D C) C) 6%?" i") 9 Q09 9 1 D Q Q Q 900000 llllllllll l|||l|| FIG-5 INVENTOR RUSSELL A. HETZER ATT Fla-6 Dec. 1941- R. A. HETZER CLEANING MACHINE a Shets-Shet 6 Filed March 4, 1938 R W E Z RH I N 0 M E L "H VL A NE s s U R Patented Dec. 2, 1941 CLEANING MACHINE Russell A. Hetzer, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The American Laundry Machinery Company,

Norwood, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 4, 1938, Serial No. 193,887

18 Claims.

This invention relates to improved apparatus for cleaning, renovating and otherwise treating a large mass of small material particles adapted to be conveyed by an air stream. I have chosen to describe the same as embodied in a machine for treating feathers, it being understood that I may apply it to other purposes.

This invention relates to an improved type of machine for treating feathers or the like in a batch process wherein the feathers are loaded directly into a container, treated in that container and unloaded directly out of the container into a receiver, all without the passage of the feathers through a fan or blower or through tortuous conduits. I thus avoid breakage of the quills and preserve the life and resiliency of the feathers.

My improved apparatus comprises a container for the feathers to be treated and a blower or fan having air inlet and outlet between the blower and container and also atmospheric air inlet and outlet, together with suitable control dampers so that feathers may be sucked into the container through a loading door by a stream of air passing from the container to the fan and then to atmosphere; the feathers may be treated by a stream of air passing through the container and recirculated through the blower at least in part; and the feathers may be unloaded into a receiving tick or the like by utilizing the blower to build up air pressure in the container for blowing the feathers out into the tick. In such a device I provide automatic means for starting the sterilizing treatment upon closing of the loading door, including the automatic closing oil of the container from the rest of'the circulating system. I also provide automatic timing mechanism for controlling the sterilizing operation and for re-establishing the circuit for the air circulating or treating system. Other controls provide for the automatic closing off of a portion of the air circulating system so as to build up a pressure in the feather container at the time the unloading door or valve is opened. Other controls are provided for a simplified ar- 'rangement of. the air circulating circuits so that a single control member will set the necessary valves for the various feather treating operations.

Other objects and advantages of my improved control system will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and specification wherein I have shown certain improved mechanisms for carrying out the various feather treating operations mentioned above. The essential features of my invention will be set forth in the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying my invention with a part broken away to more clearly show certain of the control mechanisms; Fig. 2 is a side elevation with certain parts broken away to show the internal construction; Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the machine with the rear housing panel removed; Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional plan views taken on the lines 4-4 and 5-5, respectively, of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 'is a detail sectional. view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a fragmental detail view of a portion of the operating mechanism taken on the line 'l| of Fig. 2; Fig. 8 is an elevational view of the mechanism of Fig. 7 looking from the right; Fig. 9 is a view like Fig. 7 showing the parts in an operated position;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line III-l0 of Fig. 1; Fig. 11 is a fragmental plan view of a portion of the mechanism of Fig. 10 showing in full lines an operated position of the parts and in dot-dash lines the unoperated position of the parts corresponding to Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a front elevation of the mechanism of Figs. 10 and 11 also showing in dot-dash lines the unoperated'position of the parts; Fig. 13 is a diagram of certain electrical operating circuits; while Fig. 14 is a detail perspective view of one of the scraping members in the feather container.

While many of the features of my invention are applicable to a single feather treating container, I have chosen to illustrate my invention as embodied in a unitary machine comprisingtwo containers located side by side and having certain operating and control parts in duplicate and certain other parts functioning for both of the containers. In such a unit a single operator may treat different batches of feathers in the two containers simultaneously and perform the various control operations necessary. I thus obtain an increase in the volume of feathers treated per unit of labor and also provide saving in the operating and control mechanism necessary for a plurality of containers.

In the accompanying description where the parts are duplicated for the two containers and v their associated apparatus I will describe one set of apparatus only, utilizing the suflix a, it being understood that in every such case there is a duplicate part which will have the suiiix 17..

Where a part is described without any suflix after the reference character it will be understood that such part functions for the treating apparatus as a whole.

Substantially all of the apparatus is housed within a suitable casing II which is designed with the necessary structural framework and covered by sheet metal or the like so as to provide a pleasing appearance and to protect all the parts. Within this housing and at the forward end thereof I have mounted two feather treating compartments substantially cylindrical in shape placed side by side as shown at Ila and lib, there being an air space between them at H. These containers depart slightly from cylindrical form in that the rear wall extends tangentially downward and the bottom wall extends tangentially rearward. meeting at the lower rear portion where an opening Ila is closed or opened by the control valve Fa. Through this opening an air stream enters the container tangentially so as to create a maximum swirling of the feathers during air inlet through conduit n which leads to a suitable screened or filtered inlet opening 82 in one of the sidewalls of the cabinet. Conduit II is controlled by a damper or valve C. A second air inlet for the blower communicates through filter means with the screened opening Zia at the top of the feather container. This second inlet comprises a conduit 63 branching off the cona treating or unloading operation. The top wall oi the container is open for the passage of,air therethrough from the point Illa to the point a and this section is provided with a. double wire screen Ila of coarse and flne wire mesh. 'In the front wall of the container is a door 22a for observation and access to the interior of the con- 7 tainer. This door preferably has a glass window and is provided with slotted openings and thumb screws, together with suitable gaskets, so that the door may be secured in place with an airtight connection. Also at the front of each container is an unloading nozzle such as shown at 23a communicating with the opening 24a in the forward wall of the container. This opening is controlled by the valve or door Ha best seen in Fig.

.- 10. Located centrally of the containers and passing through both of them is a shaft which is iournalled in the side walls of the housing or cabinet and provided at one endwith the sprocket 26 which is drivingly connected by a chain 21 with a geared head motor 28. An idler sprocket 29 keeps the chain tight. Mounted on this shaft are three agitator arms 30a spaced 120 apart. Each arm carries at its end a scraper blade 3la. spring pressed into engagement with the walls of the container by springs 32a. The blade tie is preferably of Bakelite or similar composition v which will not wear away the metal wall oi the feathers as theyare loaded into the container.

This hopper has a false bottom screened at 49a through which heavy foreign particles may fall into the space below, which may be cleaned out by the door at a.

Air circulation is provided by a blower 42 suitably mounted in the lower rear portion of the casing and having a. driving pulley connected by belts 43 with the pulley of a motor 44. This blower has two air outlets, one through conduit 45, heater 48 and conduit 11a leading to the container opening at I811. Referring to Fig. 4 it will be noted that conduits 41a and 41b are separated by a partition 48. 'In conduit is the control damper E. A second air outlet from the blower is best seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 and comprises the conduit 9 controlled by valve or damper D and extending rearwardly and upwardly to the atmospherio outlet 58 at the upper rear portion of the machine. The blower has an atmospheric duit II. This in turn communicates by conduits "a and b with the filter units 55a and 55b. The filter in turn is connected by conduit means a with the screened opening 2la in the feather container. This conduit at the inlet to the filter is provided with the partition plates or vanes 51a for evenly distributing the air to the filter. The flow of air through conduit 68a to the filter is controlled by the valve or damper Aa which is normally held open by a spring 58a.

A suitable form of filter as shown at 55a comprises an inlet manifold 58a having a plurality of circular openings We each communicating with a tubular filter member 6la connected to similar flanged openings 62a in a bottom plate which forms a division wall for the dirt receiving section below the filters where a drawer 63a is provided. It will be understood that air enters the filter at 58a and passes through the plurality of tubular filter units into the space 84a which communicates with the conduit 54a leading to the;blower. Air flow in conduit 54a is controlled by the valve Ba. The dirt collects inside the filter units Ola and falls into the drawer 63a which may be readily removed for cleaning. Doors 65a give access to the filter units B Ia so that they may be tapp d or shaken to loosen the dirt caught in them if necessary. The outer wall of the cabinet is provided with doors 86a giving access to the entire filtering apparatus. The filter has an atmospheric outlet at 81a in its lower rear wall and this communicates by a. branch duct 68a with the atmospheric air outlet 49-50. The outlet g nduit 68a is controlled by a valve or damper Means is provided for introducing a sterilizing fluid into the feather container. This comprises a spray head 69a connected by pipe 'llia with a source for sterilizer fluid, such as steam or the like. This pipe is controlled by the valve Ila which is provided with an actuator, such as a solenoid 12a. As will presently be described, means is provided for energizing the solenoid 12a coincidentally with the closing of door 34a and timing means is provided to time the operation of valve lia.

In the above description I have enumerated air valves or control dampers A to H inclusive. I provide a simplified control means so that certain of these valves may be operated coincidentally for various control operations. During the feather loading operation valves A, B and D are open and valves C, E, F, G and H are closed. To change to a feather cleaning or treating operation it is necessary to open C, to close D and to open E and F. It is also advisable to at least partly close B and to at least partly open G. B and G may be respectively entirely closed and openedif desired. The control mechanism for accomplishing these .valve movements is as follows; Located at the front of the machine is the manual 13. This is connected by rod 74 with arm 15 on cross shaft 16. The lower end of lever 15 is connected by a link 11 with arm 18 on a shaft 19 which extends transversely of the containers and supports both of the valves Fa and Fb. Fixed to one end of shaft 16 is arm which is connected by a link 8| with arm 82 of shaft 83. This shaft carries arms 84a and 84b which are connected by links 8511 and 8517 with arms 85a and 86b which operate valves Ba and El) respectively. An arm 81 on shaft 83 is connected by link 88 with an arm 89 on shaft 98. Valve E is operated directly from shaft 90. Shaft 98 also carries an arm 9| which is connected by link 92- with valve D. Another arm 93 on shaft 90 is connected by link 94 with valve C.- An arm 95 on shaft 90 is connected by link 96 with arm 91 on shaft 98. This shaft carries two arms 99a and 99b which are connected by links IIlIla and b with valves Ga and G2) respectively. The arrangement of all of these valves and connect ing parts is such that with manual 13 in its rearward position, valves B are open, valve C is closed, valve D is open and valves E, F and G are closed. With the manual 13 in its forward or I operated position the valves B are at least partly closed, valve C is open, valve D is closed, valves E and F are open and the valves G are at least partly open.

Means is provided after feathers have been placed in a container through the loading door 34a for automatically starting the sterilizer spray 590. by opening valve Ho and at the same time for closing. valve Aa upon closing of the loading door. Referring to Figs. 7, 8 and 9, shaft a which is oscillated by opening and closing of door 34a extends rearwardly and is rigidly at-'.

tached to a tubular member IIlIa. Reciprocably mounted in the tubular member is the rod I820. which carries at its forward end a roller I83a. This rod is biased toward extended position by a spring IBM. The endwise movement of rod IMa relative to Na is guided and limited by a pin I85a connected to IBM which engages in a slotted plate I88a which is attached to IilIa. Mounted on Na is a mercury switch I811: for controlling electrical circuits later described. -The roller Ill3a engages in a slot or recess in a member Ill8a which is mounted for vertical movement in a bracket I89a. The upper end of member I880. is connected by cable Ilfla with valve Aa. This cable passes over suitable guiding pulleys II Ia. When door 34a. is open the parts are in the full line position of Fig. 7. When door 34a is closed the parts move to the dot-dash position of Fig. '1 closing the contacts of the mercury switch I 01a'to start action of the sterilizer spray and action of a timing device as will be later described at the same time the member IBM is moved downwardly to close valve Ad. The parts remain in the dotdash position of Fig. '7 until completion of the sterilizing operation and the operation of the timing device which results in energization of solenoid 511 which is operatively connected to bellcrank Il6a, one arm of which engages a pin Illa on rod I020. The bellcrank is normally biased in clockwise direction by spring 811 and when the solenoid So is energized the bellcrank moves in a counterclockwise direction as shown in Fig. 9 withdrawing the roller I83a from the slot in MM which permits'valve A0. to open under the influence of its spring. The parts then remain in the full line positionof Fig. 9 until the loading door is again opened when the parts return to the dot-dash position of Fig. 9 or the full line position of Fig. 7, whereupon the roller I03a again automatically engages in the slot of the member I88a.

Means is provided for preventing the movement of manual 13 forward for a feather treating operation when the loading door 34 is open. This means comprises the member I I9a fixed on shaft 16 in such a manner that it strikes I8 Ia when the parts are in the full line position of Fig. '1 if it is attempted to pull manual 13 forwardly. Means is also provided for preventing the opening of loading door 34a if the manual 13 is in its forward position. This is also a-function of the member 9a which in the full line position of the parts in Fig. 9 rests beneath I8Ia in a manner to prevent opening of door 34a.

Means is provided to close the valves Aa and Ab to build up pressure in the containers at the time an unloading operation takes place, at

which time the valves H are opened. This mechanism might be independent of other mechanism a well-known mechanism for holding it in either of its two positions. This construction comprises a button on the end of the handle connected with a trigger which engages in a suitable slot in a bracket to hold the handle in either valve-closed or valve-open position.

Electrical control circuits including the circuits for automatically starting the sterilizer spray when the loading door is closed, for stopping the sterilizer spray after a predetermined time, and for restoring valve Aa or Ab to open position after a sterilizing operation are shown in Fig. 13.

A three-phase source of power is shown at Li, La, La. Switch I35 energizes blower motor 44 and switch I35 energizes agitator motor 28. Suitable circuits connect the container illuminating lights I4Iaand I4Ib through snap switch I31.

.Other circuits connect the clock timers I380. and

I38b and their'respective signal lights I39a and I39b.

The automatic controls for containers Mia and I6b are shown at I42a and I421) respectively. These are exactly alike so one only is shown in detail and described.

One terminal of mercury switch Ill1a is connected to L1 by line I43a. When loading door 34a is closed and switch I81a is closed, a circuit is completed through line IMa, terminal 5a, lines M811, M111, I48a and H911, heater I50a, line I5Ia, normally closed switch I52a of relay R1, and lines I53a, I54a, I55a, I55, and I51 to L3.

Simultaneously a circuit is established from terminal 5a through line I58a, coil of relay R2, line I59a, normally closed switch IGIla of relay Ra, lines IBIa, I550, I56 and I51 to L3. This circuit energizes relay R2 closing normally open switch I62a which establishes a circuit from terminal 5a through lines I63a and IBM, solenoid 12a, lines I56 and I51 to La. Energization of solenoid 12a opens valve 1Ia admitting steam through spray 59a.

The above circuits are established simultaneously and the heater I5Ila begins to heat the thermostatic timer switch I55a simultaneously with the opening of valve 1Ia. After a predetermined period which, for example, in this case is 15 seconds, the contact X of switch I65a moves from terminal Y into contact with terminal Z thereby establishing a circuit from terminal I45a through lines 6a, Illa, I65a, relay coil R1, lines IBM and IBM, terminals X and Z of I65a, lines 5911,

Illa, Illa, Ill and Ill of In. This circuit energizes coil R1 opening switch Illa and closing switch Illa. Closing Illa establishes a circuit from terminal Illa through lines Illa, Illa, Illa. coll R1, line Illa. switch Illa, lines Ilia, Illa. Illa, I56 and Ill to L3. This is a maintaining circuit for coil R1 and maintains switch Illa closed and Illa open. Opening Illa breaks the circuit to heater Illa and, when Illa cools, its terminal X makes contact with terminal Y and breaks contact with terminal Z. This requires a period of time which, for example, is 15 seconds. when terminals X and Y are reconnected a circult is established from terminal Illa through lines Illa, Illa, Illa, coil R3, Illa, Illa, Illa, terminals Y and X, line Illa, switch Illa, lines Illa, Illa, Illa, ill and Ill to La. gizes relay Ra opening switch Illa and closing switch Illa. Opening Illa breaks the circuit through the coil of relay Re which opens switch Illa in turn breaking the circuit to solenoid lla.

This enerv.

Deenergization of this solenoid causes steam valve Ila to close (under influence of a spring not shown) and the sterilizing steam spray operation, which has now been in operation 30 seconds. is completed. The closing of switch Illa establishes a circuit from terminal Illa through lines Illa, Illa, Illa, coil Ra, lines illa, Illa, switch Illa, lines Illa, Illa; I56 and Ill to Le. This is a maintaining circuit for coil Ba and maintains switch Illa closed and switch Illa open. A circult is also established from terminal Illa through lines Illa, Illa, coil of relay R4, lines II8a, Illa, switch Illa, lines Illa, Ill and Ill to L3. This energizes coil of relay R4 and closes switch Illa which establishes a circuit from terminal Illa through line Illa, switch Illa. line Illa, solenoid Illa and line Ill to L3. Energization of this solenoid rotates bellcranlr Illa (see Figs. 7 and 9) releasing roller Illa from the slot in member Illa permitting spring lla to return valve Ad to open position.

If it is desired to operate the steam spray valve at other times during operation 01' the machine it may be accomplished by manually operated switch Illa. Closing this normally open switch establishes a circuit from L1 through Ilia directly to the coil of solenoid lla and thence to La.

The means provided for securing a feather receiving tick or the like to the unloading nozzles 23a is best seen in Figs. 1, 2, 10, 11 and 12. Through a pair of coil springs I lla and Illa is threaded a cable Illa. One end of the cable is connected to a lever arm Illa which is pivotally mounted on a pin Illa supported in a suitable bracket. A spring Illa isconnected between the pin and the lever arm in a manner to bias the lever outwardly to the dash-dot position of Fig. 11. A lever arm I 26a similar to Illa is mounted in the same manner on the other side of the unloading nozzle. Cable Illa extends around the lower half of the nozzle through spring I lla and isthreaded through a hole in lever arm Illa, then continues around the upper hall of the nozzle through spring Ill and through a second hole in lever arm Illa, then downwardly around pulleys Illa where its lower end is connected to the arm of a lever Illa; This lever is fixed to a shaft Illa supported in a bracket Illa. A pedal Ilia is also fixed to shaft Illa and has pivotally connected at its inner end a weighted latch member Illa. A trip lever Illa is rotatably mounted on shaft Illa. .When pedal Ilia is depressed the latch Illa rotates under the influence of the counterweight and engages on top oi the ledge Illa oi the bracket. The ends of the coil spring IlIa engage the lower faces 01 lever arms Illa and Illa. The ends of spring Illa likewise engage the upper-laces of levers Illa and Illa.

The parts Just described normally occupy the position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 10 and also shown in broken lines in Figs. 11 and 12. To secure a tick on the unloading nozzle lla the tick is placed over the nozzle beneath the springs and in contact with a resilient insert Illa of cork or the like which surrounds the nozzle beneath the springs. Pedal IlIa is then depressed which rotates the lever Illa clockwise, thus pulling the cable Illa and tightening the coil springs Illa and Ilia around the unloading nozzle. This moves the lever arms Illa and Illa inwardly to the lull line position of Fig. 11. The latch Illa engages the ledge on the bracket and holds the parts in this position. The insert Illa provides a close contact between the tick and the nozzle and Increases the friction maintaining the tick in position. Metal to metal contact at this point might cut the fabric of the tick. To

release the mechanism the trip lever Illa is.

depressed releasing the latch and permitting the mechanism to return to the original position of Hg. 10, relieving the clamping eilect on the tick and permitting springs Illa and Illa to expand to open position.

Operation In the idle position of the machine it will be assumed that the blower motor ll and the agitator arm motor ll are shut down; that the manual ll is in the unoperated or rearward position of Fig. 2; that levers Ii la and ID are in the position oiFig. 2 corresponding to closed position of valves Ha and Hb; and that loading doors lla and llb are in the open position in which case the rollers Illa and Illb are engaged in the slots of members Illa and Illb and in the full line position of Fig. 'l. The operator then closes switches I ll and Ill starting the blower motor and the agitator motor. Next she may, if desired, illuminate the interior of the compartments by operating the snap switch ill on the front control panel.

The next operation is the loading 01' a batch of feathers. With the parts in the position Just described, alr enters each container, the circuit for container Ila being as follows: Through loading door lla. screens lIa, conduit lla, valve Aa, filter lla, duct lla past valve Ba, into conduits ll and BI to the suction side oi. the blower, then through the blower and conduits ll and ll to atmosphere, passing valve D which is open.

this compartment is completely loaded, door lla is closed and the operator moves to the other side of the apparatus, loading another batch oi leathers into compartment Ilb.

Closing door lla rotates rod lla and moves the member Illa and associated parts to the dot-dash line position of Fig. 'I. This closes valve Aa through the connecting cable la and at the same time closes the contacts of the mercury switch Illa. This results in energization of solenoid Ila which opens valve lla, admitting steam or other sterilizing fluid into the container Ila. The same operation takes place in the other compartment after its loading door t am 7 has been closed. This operation in both containers is automatically timed say for a period orthirty seconds, at the end of which time the spray is" automatically cut of! and the valves An and Ab are automatically returned to open position in the manner already described.

Upon closing the door 3412 the operator moves to the front of the machine and pulls forwardly on manual 13. This moves the interlockedmemhers I Mia and l l9b into position preventing opening of the doors 34a and 34b. At the same time it opens valve C, closes valve D, opens valves E, Fa and FD. It also moves valves Ba, Bb. Ga and Gb to half-way open position. If desired, valves B may be entirely closed and valves G entirely open so that no air is recirculated. The path of the air is now from theblower through con-,

duit 45, heater 46, conduits 41a and 17, into the containers Mia and I 6b producing a swirling movement of the feathers therein in addition to the constant agitation produced by the rotating arms 30a and 301;. Following the air from compartment I60, it passes through screens Zla, conduit 56a, filter 55a from whichpart oi the air is exhausted through the outlet 61a and the atmospheric conduit 68a, the other part passing through the partly open valve Ba and through conduits 54a, 53 and back to the blower. The necessary make-up air entersthe blower through the fresh air intake conduit 5| as valve C is open. The clock timers B811 and B81) may be set to energize the signal lights i390. and I391; at the end of this operation.

When these signal lamps are illuminated it is time for the unloading operation. Manual 13 is left in its operated position and assuming that ticks have already been placed on the unloading nozzles 23a and 231), the handles 3a. and 3b are moved to open the valves Ha and Hb and to close valves Aa and Ab. The air circuit is now through conduit 5| into the blower and out through conduits 45 and "a into the compartmerit I611 and out through the nozzle 23a carrying the feathers into the tick. Just at the finish of this operation the hand switches 0a and.

"0b (see Fig. 13) are momentarily depressed, injecting ashot of steam into the compartment, breaking up static electricity and avoiding any tendency of the feathers to stick to the container walls.

This is a complete cycle and may be immediately repeated in which case the handles 3a and 3b are returned to their former position and manual 13 is moved rearwardly. The loading doors may'then be opened.

It is not necessary to wait until the sterilizing operation in compartment llib is completed be;- fore moving the operating manual 13 forwardly to the treating position. In other words this can be done immediately after closing the loading door 34b, thus starting the treating operation in compartment Ilia because valve Ab remains closed until'the sterilizing operation is completed in container lBb after which it is automatically opened and the treating operation will commence.

This is accomplished by moving the handle I Ila or I lib oi the container to be unloaded which will close the respective valve A and open the respective valve H.

What I claim is: t

1. In apparatus of the class described, a container for material to be treated, there being an opening through a wall of said container, a door for closing said opening, there being a second opening through a wall of said container and air circulating means communicating therewith, means for sterilizing material in said container, a timing device, means for simultaneously closing said second named opening and starting said sterilizing means and starting said timing device, and said device having operative connections on the one hand with said closing means for causing opening or the latter and on the other hand with said sterilizing means for stopping the latter after a predetermined time interval;

2. In apparatus of the class described, a container for material to be treated, them being air inlet and outlet openings in said container, air circulating means for moving air into said container through one of said openings, said circulating means also being arranged to move air out oi? said container through one of said openings, valve means for segregating said container from said air circulating means including a valve havingopen and closed positions, aperture means for unloading material from said container, a, door for closing said aperture means, means for sterilizing material insaid container, control means for said valve including interengaging parts, one part having an operative connection with said sterilizing means, the other part having an operative connection with said valve, means for moving said parts together to cause operation of said sterilizer means and closing of said valve, means for disengaging said parts to permit said valve to open, and means for closing said valve by said door in closing.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a container for material to be treated, there being an opening through a wall of said container for introduction of material, a door for closing said opening, means for sterilizing material in said container, electrical means for causing operation of said sterilizing means and including an electric circuit and a switch, and a rod operatively connected with said door and said'swltch for closing the latter by said door in closing.

4. In apparatus of the class described, a container for material to be treated, there being an opening through a wall of said container, a clo-,

sure for said opening. a blower, air inlet means for said blower comprising conduit means communicating with said container, a screen across said conduit means at the container end thereof, filter means in said conduit means, an atmospheric outlet from said filter means, a valve in said outlet, air outlet means from said blower to atmosphere, a valve in said air outlet means, a conduit connecting said blower outlet with said container, a valve in said conduit, a heater in said conduit, and a single control means for at least partially opening said first named valve and for closing said second named valve and for opening said third named valve.

5. In apparatus or the class described, a container for material to be treated, there being an opening through a wall of said container, a closure for said opening, a blower, air inlet means ior said blower comprising conduit means communicating with said container, a screen across said conduit means at the container end thereof, filter means in said conduit means, a valve in said conduit means between said filter means and blower inlet, an atmospheric outlet from said filter means, a valve in said outlet, air outlet means from said blower to atmosphere, a valve in said air outlet means, a conduit connecting said blower outlet with said container, a valve in said conduit, a heater in said conduit, and a single control means for partially closing said first named valve and at least partially opening said second named valve and for closing said third named valve and for opening said fourth named valve.

6. In apparatus of the class described, a container for material to be treated, there being an opening through a wall of said container, a closure for said opening, a blower, air inlet means for said blower comprising conduit means communicating with said container, a screen across said conduit means at the container end thereof, air outlet means from said blower to atmosphere, a valve in said air outlet means, a conduit connecting said blower outlet with said container, a valve in said conduit, an atmospheric air inlet for said blower, a valve in said air inlet, and a single control means for closing said first named valve and for opening said second named valve and for at least partially opening said third named valve.

7. In apparatus of the class described, a container for material to be treated, there being an opening through a wall of said container, a closure for said opening, a blower, air inlet means for said blower comprising conduit means communicating with said container, a screen across said conduit means at the container end thereof, a valve in said conduit means between said container and blower inlet, air outlet means from said blower to atmosphere, a valve in said air outlet means, a conduit connecting said blower outlet with said container, a valve in said conduit, an atmospheric air inlet for said blower, a valve in said air inlet, and a single control means for partially closing said first named valve and for closing said second named valve and for opening said third named valve and for at least partially opening said fourth named valve.

8. In apparatus of the class described, a container for material to be treated, there being a material discharge opening through a wall of said container, a closure for said opening, a blower, air inlet means for said blower including a conduit communicating with said container, a screen across said conduit at the container end thereof, a valve in said conduit adapted to close it, other air inlet means for said blower, air outlet means from said blower to said container, and a single control means for closing said valve and opening said closure.

9. In apparatus of the class described, a container for material to be treated, there being an opening through a wall of said container, a blower, air inlet means for said blower comprising conduit means communicating with said container, a screen across said conduit means at the container end thereof, a valve in said conduit means, air outlet means from said blower to atmosphere, a valve in said outlet means, a conduit connectingsaid blower outlet with said container, a valve in said conduit, and a single control means for opening said first and second named valves and for closing said third named valve.

10. In apparatus of the class described, a container for material to be treated, there being an opening through a wall of said container, a closure for said opening. a blower, air inlet means for said blower comprising conduit means communicating with said container, a. screen across said conduit means at the container end thereof, filter means in said conduit means, a valve in said conduit means between said filter means and blower inlet, an atmospheric outlet from said filter means, a valve in said outlet, atmospheric air inlet means for said blower, a valve in said last named air inlet means, air outlet means from said blower to atmosphere, a valve in said air outlet means, a conduit connecting said blower outlet with said container, a valve in said conduit, a heater in said conduit, and a single control means for partially closing said first named valve and at least partially opening said second and third named valves and for closing said fourth named valve and for opening said fifth named valve.

11. In apparatus of the class described, a plurality of separate containers for material to be treated, there being an opening through a wall of each container, a door for closing said opening, therebeing a second opening through a wall of each container and common air circulating means having suction connections with all of said second openings, whereby with suction at said second opening and with the door for said first named opening in open position material may be loaded into said container, sterilizing means for each container, and means for selectively closing each of said second named openings and for coincidentally operating its associated sterilizing means.

12. In apparatus of the class described, a container for material to be treated, a door in a wall of said container for intake of material thereinto, a blower, an air intake conduit for said blower communicating with said container, an air discharge conduit for said blower, a valve in said intake conduit normally biased toward open position, an actuator for closing said valve, an arm operatively connected with said actuator and with said door for closing said valve by said door in closing, switch means operable in switchclosing direction by said arm as said door closes, material treating means associated with said container, control means for said treating means, electrical means for causing operation of said control means and energized by closing of said switch means, and means for releasing the operative connection between said arm and said actuator operable by said electrical means.

13. In apparatus of the class described, a container for material to be treated, there being an opening through a wall of said container, a door for closing said opening, material treating means, conduit means for a material processing current communicating with said container, timing means, means operable by said door in closing for closing said conduit means and Iorstarting operation of said treating means and for starting said timing means, and means operable by said timing means for stopping operation of said treating means a predetermined time after starting thereof.

14. In feather treating apparatus of the class described, a container for material to ,be treated, there being an opening through a wall of said container for introduction of material; a door mounted on said container for closing said opening, means for sterilizing material in said container, means for operating said sterilizing means, and an operative connection independent of maof said container for intake of material thereinto,

a blower, an air intake conduit for said blower communicating with said container, an air discharge conduit for said blower, a valve in said intake conduit normally biased toward open position, an actuator for closing said valve, means providing an operative connection with said actuator and with said door for closing said valve by said door in closing, timing means started by said door in closing, material treating means associated with-said container, and means for releasing said operative connection between said actuator and said door by operation of said timing means.

16. The combination of claim 15 wherein the parts are so arranged as to reestablish said operative connection betweensaid actuator and said door by said door in opening.

17. In feather treating apparatus, a'plurality of containers for feathers to be treated, there being an opening through'a wall of each container and common air circulating means having a plurality of suction conduits communicating one with each container and therethrough with each opening, whereby suction in said conduits will load material into said containers through said openings, a door for closing each opening, a.

normally open valve in each conduit, feather sterilizing means for each container, actuating means for each sterilizing means, an operative connection between each door and its associated sterilizer actuating means for operating said actuating means, and means actuated by each of said doors for closing each of said valves as the door is closed.

18. In feather treating apparatus, a plurality of separate containers for feathers to be treated, there being an opening through a wall of each container, a blower, conduits, one for each container, communicating with the suction side of. 

